The boxing world was in awe when 20-year-old prodigy Moses Itauma blasted Demsey McKean in the opening round on the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 undercard In December.
One person who wasn’t surprised by how easily the Slovakian-British boxer beat McKean was Itauma himself, who was Uncrowned’s 2024 Prospect of the Year.
“I did say before the fight [that] if I know who I am, I should be able to breeze through Demsey,” Itauma told “The Ariel Helwani Show on Wednesday.” “That’s what happened really. It is no shock to me; I did say beforehand, and then obviously I went out there and done it. I just confirmed that I am who I think I am.”
Itauma (11-0, 9 KOs) radiates confidence nowadays when speaking about his ability, but he didn’t always allow himself to speak so highly of himself.
“When you interviewed me two years ago, I just turned professional,” Itauma explained. “The questions you [were] able to ask me were only about my future, and when I talk about my future and what I think I can do, it’s just going to sound like I’m bragging.”
Now that Itauma has proven his ability to boxing fans, to a certain extent, he talks more openly about his seemingly boundless ceiling in the sport.
“Where do I see myself? I see myself as the best in the world,” Itauma asserted. “That’s gonna sound like I’m bragging, but I know who I am. In two years time, you’re gonna be like, ‘Now I see why he’s so confident.'”
Itauma’s return is expected for the March 15 Nick Ball vs. TJ Doheny undercard in Liverpool. Although his next opponent has not yet been determined, Itauma has a hit list of names he’s targeting in 2025.
“Justis Huni had a good win [on Wednesday], he can get it,” Itauma began. “[Kubrat] Pulev, I personally don’t want to fight him because he’s old, but he has one of the versions of the world title, so I guess he can get it. [Fillip] Hrgovic, he’s a very, very well-ranked contender, [and] I’ll probably want his position so he can get it. Otto Wallin, if he beats Derek Chisora, he can probably get it. The list [is] endless; the fights that can be made at heavyweight, they’re good fights.”
Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, who promotes Australia’s Huni, has been vocal about matching his charge with Itauma later this year with the WBO interim heavyweight title potentially being at stake for the winner. Joseph Parker currently holds the WBO interim strap, but it will become vacant the second he enters the ring to challenge Daniel Dubois for Dubois’ IBF heavyweight crown.
Itauma has until May 19, 2025, to beat Mike Tyson’s record as the youngest heavyweight world champion, a record that has stood for 38 years since Tyson’s 2nd-round win over Trevor Berbick to claim the WBC heavyweight title in 1986.
While Itauma believes that he has what it takes to become heavyweight champion, being able to do it in the next four months is out of his control.
“If you were to say how confident am I in being the heavyweight champion of the world, I’m very confident,” Itauma explained. “But in order for me to achieve it, I need to be put in [a] position to achieve it.”
“If I get the shot, I’m taking it, and I’m confident that I do it. It’s just whether I get the opportunity. Obviously boxing now and boxing 30 years ago [are] different sports. You got a lot of stuff that you can’t control. My job is to knock people out, that’s what I’ve been doing. As far as I know, I’ve been doing my job [correctly] and if the world title comes, it comes.”
Oleksandr Usyk currently holds the WBA, WBC and WBO straps while England’s Dubois owns the IBF. Dubois puts his title on the line against Parker in the co-main event of the next Riyadh Season card on Feb. 22.
“I think I fancy Dubois [to beat Joseph Parker],” Itauma predicted about the upcoming heavyweight title fight.
“Yeah [I think Dubois has a chance to beat Usyk in the rematch],” Itauma said. “Obviously, Usyk is very good, he’s undeniably very good. What he’s done and what he’s achieved, there’s only two guys that have done that. You’ve got to take your hat off [to him] but like he’s not indestructible — and like Dubois can bang.”
Dubois stormed into the ring in Riyadh after Usyk’s repeat win over Fury in December, insisting that their rematch should be next for Usyk. Usyk accepted the proposition immediately, and now if Dubois gets past Parker in February, it is possible that Usyk and Dubois could meet again.
Many feel that Usyk is on the verge of retiring because he has essentially completed the sport. Itauma hopes that he can be in the opposite corner to Usyk, in some capacity, before the Ukrainian legend hangs up the gloves.
“It’ll be nice to share the ring with Usyk even if it’s sparring. Just to say that I’ve shared the ring with him. Like I’ve shared the ring with everyone that’s on the scene now. The only one I’m really missing is Usyk.”
